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His air of authority was unly deep ti blue eyes, convinced Julia of who he was She felt her heart plummet to her feet, and she knew the color had left her cheeks “You're Logan Scott,” she murmured “You should have told me”

His eyes gleae “You should have asked”

She nodded in rueful acknowledged to ruin all chances of creating a favorable impression

“And your name is…?” he prompted

“Mrs Jessica Wentworth,” Julia said, using the stage name she had invented for herself The half-dozen people in the room stared at her curiously She wanted to craay into some dark corner and hide

“Very well, Mrs Wentworth,” Logan Scott said softly “Let's find out what you're capable of” He held out one broad hand for the audition pieces she had brought, and casually riffled through the daes “I see you've prepared a scene fro run of that play last season Charles is quite faestured to the tall blondthe part of Lord Aversley, Charles?”

The young man obeyed with alacrity

Scott seated himself comfortably, and the others followed suit “If you don't mind, Mrs Wentworth, we'll allow the other members of the company to watch your audition”

Julia did mind, actually It was roup than a large one And these people were actors, theto be part of the Capital—they would see i, and precious little experience But she had come too far to retreat now Julia forced a smile to her face, and unlocked her knees in order to join the young reenroom

In appearance, Charles was not the ideal Lord Aversley—he seemed rather too bland and handsome for the role of a consummate villain On the other hand, he possessed an air of self-assurance that impressed Julia She had no doubt of his ability to play convincingly any character he chose

“Mathilda is a tricky role to choose for an audition,” Logan Scott re to Julia or the others in the roo heroine is usually tiresome”

Julia nodded gravely, staring at his i, Mr Scott”

There was a twitch of ain when you're ready, Mrs Wentworth”

Julia nodded and stared at the floor in concentration, preparing herself for the scene The story of Mathilda had brought fao, first in the fore The public was fascinated by the tale of an airl's descent into prostitution, and her eventual redemption The scene Julia had chosen was a pivotal one in which Mathilda, still a virgin, was seduced by the diabolical rake Lord Aversley

Julia glanced up at Charles, and she began to speak in a rough country accent He responded in the pure, aristocratic tones of Aversley With each line, Julia felt herself sinking deeper into the character She beca as Aversley slowly pursued her around the room

Logan concentrated on the girl, all his senses arrested Although she was a save her the illusion of being taller With her ash-blond hair, brilliant blue-green eyes and delicately angled face, she was too pretty, actually It was rare to find a woman of such unassailable beauty as also a proficient actress Truly beautiful women never see other than an ingenue

Less than a an realized that Jessica Wentworth had a remarkable presence, the kind that ift of transfor herself into the character she played He kneithout vanity that he possessed the same ability, and that on occasion one or two of the players in the coirl who couldn't be more than twenty

Jessica Wentworth interpreted the character of Mathilda with see, with a child's curiosity and a pitiable fascination for the man ould ruin her And there was a thread of calculation in her uided aan shook his head slightly, appreciating the fluid quality of her perforlanced at the other actors and saw that they were staring raptly at the newcomer

Julia began to relax and enjoy the pleasure of working with an actor as accoly easy for her to believe he was Aversley as he sneered and stalked her from one side of the room to the other However, she faltered and stopped in dise of dialogue

“I'll finish the scene with her, Charles”

Startled, Julia watched as Scott stood from his chair and approached her He motioned for Charles to sit down, and assue that ca tension in the roohtly, and began speaking as Aversley It was thrilling Julia wanted to take a seat and just listen to the suppressed power of his voice He gave the character of Aversley a catlike quality, a preposterous self-importance, and an unexpected hint of bitterness

Adjusting the pitch of her performance to his, Julia responded as Mathilda, and for a fewwho she was Aversley toyed with Mathilda, lunged for her, pro pleasure and torripped her ar trapped She tried to wrench away, but he held her near, and spoke close to her mouth until his warm breath fanned her lips

They were at the part of the play when Aversley kissed Mathilda and carried her offstage, leaving the rest of the action to the audience's i utterly possessed by his hard grip She thought briefly that he would kiss her, and was relieved when a mask dropped over his face and he released her carefully The scene was over

The others in the rooazes on her as she stepped back and rubbed the places on her arms where Scott had held her

Noting her action, Scott turned toward her with an arched brow “Did I hurt you?” he inquired with mild surprise

Immediately Julia shook her head and let her hands drop His hold hadn't been painful in the least, but his touch had seeo

There was a long pause after that, while the members of the company continued to stare at Julia, and Scott pinned her with a speculative look Was he pleased, disappointed, uncertain? Did he think she had any merit as an actress? Julia was driven to break the silence “Shall I try another scene?” shefrom a different play?”

“That won't be necessary” Suddenly he seee One of his elegant hands lifted in a gesture for Julia to leave with hiive you a tour of the theater”

None of the others see The portly oldersirl with curly brown hair and vivid sea-green eyes approached her at the doorway “That was the best Mathilda I've ever seen,” the girl said

Julia san Scott's opinion was the one that le word

“You've had little, if any training,” he reh a maze of administrative offices

“No,” Julia said quietly

“And not much experience”